Liquid-vending machine



' J. FRITSCHE. LIQUID VENDING MACHINE. flPPLICATlON FILED SEPT 16 1919 Arm/ms.

Patented July 4", 1922.

v 6 SHEETS-SHEET I J. FRITSCHE.

LIQUID VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTV I6, 19:9.

1,421,680. Patented July 4, 1922.

6SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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J. F RITS'CHE. LIQUID VENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1919.

1,421,680. Patented July 4, 1922.

7 ATTORNEYS. i

J FRITSCHE LIQUID VENDING MAC HINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, l9l9.

Patented July 4, 1922.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4 ONLY/V56 6. F16. l.

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I J. FRITSCHE. LIQUID VENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION HLED SEPT. 16, I919.

Patented July 4, 1922.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5 OWL/N5319- ATTORNEYS.

JOHN FRITSCHE. OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LIQUID-VENDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1922.

Application filed September 16, 1919. Serial No. 324,154.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN FRITSCHE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Liquid-Vending Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention comprehends a novel construction of a llquld vending machine wherein a plurality of liquids of a different nature are discharged from the machine upon the insertion of a check or coin of a predetermined denomination.

While my present invention is adapted to vend a plurality of liquids of any desired nature, it has been designed more particularly to be employed in the type of restaurants known as automats, for the vending of coffee and cream.

The main object of the invention is to devise a novel construction and arrangement of vending mechanism which is of simple and compact construction, which may be maintained at all times in a sanitary condition, which will employ a minimum number of parts, and-which will be of a rigid construction to enable it to withstand the.

rough usage to which machines of this chaiacter are subjected, in practice. by the intending purchasers.

With the above in view 'my invention further comprehends a novel construction and arrangement of liquid containers, a novel construction and arrangement of measuring devices, a novel construction and arrangement of valve mechanisms and a novel construction and arrangement of coin controlled devices which are collo'cated and assembled in such a manner that a minimum amount of time is employed in dispensing a plurality of liquids at the same time.

Other novel features of construction and advantage will hereinafter more clearly appear in the detailed description of my invention.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings a typical embodiment thereof which is at present preferred byme, since it will be found in practice to give satisfac-.

tory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of theseinstrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents, in rear elevation, a liquid vending machine, embodying my invention, certain portions thereof belng omitted for the sake of clearne'ss of illustration.

Figure 2 represents a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 represents a section on line 44 a coin from the coin wheel.

Figure 9 represents a section on line 99 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 represents a section on line 1010 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 represents a section on line 11-11 of Figure 1.

Figure 12 represents a section on lin 1212 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 represents a sectional elevation of another-embodiment of my invention showing the manner in which the size of a measuring cup is varied.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings:

1 designates the supporting frame which carries in any desired manner the liquid container 2 for one type of liquid, as coffee, and the liquid container 3 for the other type of liquid, .as cream. The container 2 consists of a double walled container,-as will be understood from Figure 2 of the drawings, so that a chamber 4 is formed to receive a temperature changing medium which surrounds the liquid in the inner casing or container 5, in which latter the coffee or other liquid to be dispensed is placed. This container 5 is spaced from the bottom wall of the outer casingor container by means of a tubular spacing element 6 through which passes a fastening device 7 which is connected to the bottom of the outer container in any desired manner.

The fastening device 7, seen in Fi re 11, consists of a tubular bolt the head 0 which through the passage 12 in the fastening de- -vice 7. The valve casing 10 is provided with four ports, an inlet 'ort 13, the filling orts 14 and 15 and the discharge port 16. ach container 2 is provided with a pair of measuring cups 17 and 18, respectively, and since each of these cups is constructed and connected in a similar manner, a description of one will sufiice for'both.

Each measuring cup is provided with a laterally extending flange 19 and below this flange the casing is internally threaded as at 20, in order to receive a nut 21 which secures the measuring cup in fixed relation with respect to the bottom plate 22 of the inner casing 5. Each measuring cup is provided with an aperture 23 leading from the measuring chamber proper 24 which latter opensthrough the upper end of the casing 17. The lower end of the casing 17 rests on the bottom of the outer container and it is interiorly threaded as at 25, in order to receive the coupling sleeve 26 in threaded engagement with it and provided with a flange 27 which engages the under face of the bottom of the outer container. The threaded sleeve 25 is provided with an exteriorly threaded stem 28 with which engages a coupling nut 29. 3O designates a tubularcouphng memher in threaded engagement with the valve casing 10 and communicating with the port 1.4 and the passage 26. Thiscoupling member 30 is provided with a conical bearing portion 31 which forms a tight joint with the internal tapered portion 32 of the sleeve 25. a

The upper end of the chamber 24 is provided with a closure 33 in threaded engagement with the casing 17, and a gasket 34 is provided in order to seal the joint between such parts. 35 designates a pipe extending through a closure 33' and above the level of the liquid in the inner container 5 to form a vent.

The capacity of the measuring chamber 24 may be increased by recessing the closure 33, as indicated at 36. or it may be decreased by forming on the closure a downward extension or enlargement as 37, see Figure 13.

It will be seen from this' that by simply substituting one closure for another the capacity of any measuring chamber 24 may be increased or diminished -in accordance with require en s a d on t ons m wi h 11. 9

practical operation of the liquid vending machine.

The valve casing 10, see more particularly- Figure 12, is provided with a conical valve seat 38 in order to adapt it to receive a coni- .the chamber 42 is provided with a ball bearing 43 which is secured in position by means of the nuts 44 one of which serves asa lock nut. The ball bearing 43 abuts against a shoulder 45. The chamber 42 is closed by means of a plate 46 secured to the casing in any desired manner. The stem of the valve which extends into the chamber 42-has passing transversely through it a pin 47 which is adapted to engage the walls of the slots 48 in a coupling sleeve 49 on which latter is mounted a ball bearing 50. The coupling sleeve 49 is connected to a shaft 51 which passes through a closure 52 secured to the casing 10 in any desired manner and closing the outer end of the chamber 42. The shaft 51 has fixed to it a gear 53 which meshes with a gear 54 mounted on a shaft 55 journalled in the framework of the machine, see more particularly Figure 1.

The liquid container 2 is provided with an inlet pipe 56 and a discharge pipe 57 which communicate with the chamber 4 in order that a circulation of the temperature changing medium may be efi'ected.

The liquid container 2 is provided with a removable closure '58 and also with a filling port 59 so that the chamber 4 may be filled when desired by pouring the temperature changing medium into the filling port 59. A gage 60 is preferabl provided by means of which the height of iquid in the container 4 may be determined and a gage 61 is preferabl y provided by means of which the height of the liquid in the container 5 may be determined. Each of these gages is preferably prolyided-in the usual manner with a drain coc The source-of heat such as, for example, a gas burner 62, see Figure 2, is positionedbeneath the container 2 so that the temperature changing medium 4 may be maintained at a desired temperature.

The liquld container 3 which is to receive the cream is preferably a double walled container provided with a removable closure 63 and the hamber 64 between he inner container 65 and the outer provide container 66, see Figure 9, is preferably packed with insulating material such as for example cork, although as will be apparent a temperature changing medium can be placed in this chamber 64 if desired. The liquid container 3 is provided in a-similar manner to the liquid container 2 with measuring cups 67 and 68 which are constructed and arranged in a similar manner as the measuring cups 17 and 18 in the liquid container 2. A detailed description of themis therefore thought to be unnecessary. The measuring cup 67 is provided with a vented closure 69 and the measuring cup 68 is provided with a vented closure 70. Thepassage 71 through the fastening device communicates with the port 72 in the valve caslng 73 and the valve casing is provided with a port 74 in communication with the measuring cup 67 and with a port 75 in communication with the measuring cup 68. The valve casing 73 is also provided with a discharge port 76.

The valve casing 73 is provided with a conically shaped seat 77 with which a con cal valve 78 co-operates said valve having ports 79 and 80, respectively. The ends of the port 79 open through the valve body at sub-' stantially 90 from each other and the same holds true of the ends of the ports 80. It will be apparent to any one that if these vented closures are removed and a cleaning liquid inserted into the inner casing, it will pass through the measuring cups and the valve from such inner casing.

The forward end of the stem 48 has mounted on It a ball bearing 81 secured in position by means of nuts 82 one of which serves as a lock nut. The valve stem at the opposite end of the valve 78 has mounted on it a ball bearing 83 and the free end of the stem is slotted as indicated at 84 in order to engage a keyed portion of the shaft 55, see Figure 1. It will be understood from Fi ure 10 that the valve casing 73 is (f on opposite sides of the valve seat 77 with conically shaped recesses which conform to similar recesses in the valve caslng 10 and closures are provided for the open ends of such recesses. 85 designates a discharge pipe which is secured by means of a coupling nut 86 to the 'valve casing 10.

87 designates a corresponding discharge pipe 1 which is secured by means of a coupling 88 to the valve casing 73. These two discharge pipes 85 and 87 extend through an aperture 89 in the front plate 90 of the machine and their discharge ends are located within an ornamental head 91 secured to the front plate of the vending machine.

The coin mechanism.

The front plate 90 of the machine is pro vided with a coin slot 92 which isof the proper dlmenslons to receive a coin of predetermined size and the coin after passing through the coin slot 91 passes into a coin chute 93 which is provided with a movable side 94, see Figure 3, and if the coin is of the proper dimensions it passes through the coin chute and is received in one of the slots 95 in a'coin retainer. in the form of a coin wheel 96 which is mounted on the shaft 55 so that when the coin chute is partially rotated the shaft 55 will be correspondingly rotated.

The coin wheel 96 is recessed, as indicated at 97, in proximity to each coin slot and with the walls of these recesses 97 a spring pressed plunger 98 is adapted to engage and lock the coin wheel in position at predetermined intervals. The plunger 98 is mounted in a recess 99 in a portion of the coin chute 93 and between the bottom wall of this recess and the head of the plunger is interposed a spring 100. The plunger 98 is provided with a threaded stemv 101 which carries a nut 102 which is adapted to abut against a fixed portion of the bracket 103 which is carried by the framework of the machine in any desired manner.

104 designates a plate secured to the coin chute 93 to prevent the coin from discharging from the coin wheel until the proper time. The coin wheel 96 is recessed at its periphery, as at 105, to permit the cam 106 on the cam disc 107 to move therein In the path of a coin retainedin a slot 95. The coin wheel 96 is fixedly mounted on the shaft 55.

The cam disc 107 is loosely mounted on the shaft 55 and is provided near its periphery with a cam 108 which travels in the path of a roller 109 carried by the movable side of the coin chute so that when the cam 108 is partially rotated the movable s1de 94 of the coin chute 93 will open and perm1t any coin retained therein to drop into the return chute 110 and pass into the cup 111 of a pin 116 a sleeve 117 to which is also connected a pin 118. The pin 118 serves as a stop to limit the movement o f.the rock shaft and this pin 118 contacts wlth a fixed portion of the machine framework as at 119, see Figure 6.

120 designates a spring wh1ch enc1rcles the sleeve 117, and one end of th1s spring bears against a fixed portion of the framework, while the opposite end 1s connected to a stop pin 118 so that after the shaft has been actuated the spring 120 returns the rock shaft 114 to its initial or normal position. The pin 118 Serves as a stop member parts of the machine.

Assuming that the liquid container 2 has zstruct liquid vending machines Which were I been filled with coffee and the liquid coning the tainer 3 has been filled with cream, it will be understood that, depending upon the position of the Valve, one or the other of the liquid measuring chambers 24 will be filled with coffee, which passes thereinto through the passage 12, port 13 and, for example as seen in Figure 11, the port 40, thence through the port 14 in the valve casing 10, the tubular member 30 and passages 26 and 23 into the measuring cup 24.

In a similar manner one of the measuring chambers 67 or 68' has been filled withv cream. The intending purchaser inserts a coin of the proper denomination in the coin slot 92 and this coin, if it is of the proper denomination for which the coin mechanism has been sch-passes into and through the coin slot 92 and into the inclined slot 95 in the coin wheel 96.

The grasping handle 115 and rocks the shaft 114 in a clockwise direction, whereupon the cam 106, see Figure 4, will press the coin in the coin slot 95 against the plunger 98 and move it outwardly so that the coin wheel 96 together with the shaft 55 to which it. is connected may rotate a quarter turn. If the coin is not of the proper dimensions it will be re'tained'in the coin chute 93 in a manner which will be clearly understood by mid)- ence to my prior patent in fraud preventitive device, No. 852,111, April 30th, 1907, so that when thegrasping handle 115 has been actuated to rock the rock shaft 114 the cam 108 acting on the roller 109 .will open the movable side 94 of the coin chute so that any A, coin retained therein will drop into the rescribed, then a quarter turn, as is evident,

will be impartedto the shaft 55 which will cause the valve 78-to be rotated a quarter turn so. that. the cream in the measuring chamber '67, for. example, see Figure 9, will pass therefrom through the valves 78 and ports 76 into and through discharge pipe 87. At the same time that the valve 78 is rotat- }gear 54. will havemoved the gear 53 into suc position that the shaft 51 has been rotated one-quarter turn so that the coffee purchaser now takes hold of thein the measuring chamber 24, see Figure 11,

will be discharged therefrom through the set into operation by the action of a coin and employing motors of various types. These devices while theoretically practicable are liable to get out of order at the very time when the largest amount of sales are being made and render the machine inoperative, and if the motor is connected to all of the liquid vending machines they will allbe put out of commission. In accordancewith my present invention the operation of the machine is manually controlled, and the construction is such that the machine is fool proof as the only thing the intending purchaser can operate is the grasping handle 115 connected with the rock shaft 114. If a coin of the proper denomination has not passed into the coin wheel, the liquid vending mechanism cannot be operated by the intending purchaser and all that'he can do is to rock the shaft 114 back and forth without injury to the vending mechanism.

Special attention is directed to the construction and location of the measuring cups which are'surrounded by the insulating material or the temperature changing medium in the space between the inner and outer container of each liquid container unit, and the valve mechanism which controls the passage of the liquid to be vended from a liquid container into the measuring cups 1s in close proximity to its liquid container so that the liquid in a measuring cup will be retained in a heated or cooled condition at substantially the same temperature in the until the time at which it is actually discharged from the machine.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction of a liquid vendin machine which embodies the features of a vantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, m the present instance, shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof which will give in practice satisfactory and-reliable results, it is to be understood that such em bodimcnt is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to. secure by Letters Patent, is zp 1. In a liquid vending machine, a liquid container comprising an inner and an outer casing having a chamber between them to receive a temperature changing medium, a plurality of measuring cups in said chamber, a valve'exterior of said container to alternately admit liquid from said inner casing into said cups and to alternately permit the discharge of liquid from said cups, a source of heat in proximity to said valve, and means to control said valve.

2. In a liquid vending machine, a container comprising an inner and an outer casing having a chamber between them to receive a temperature changing medium, measuring cups in said chamber and opening into said inner casing, a fluid tight closure for each cup to prevent liquid from said inner casing passing thereinto, a vent from each cup extending above the liquid in the inner casing, a valve constructed to permit liquid to pass from the inner easing into one measuring cup while the othermeasuring cup is discharging and to permit one measuring cup to discharge while the other measuring cup is filling, and means to actuate said valve.

3. In a liquid vending machine, a container comprising an inner and an outer casing having a chamber between them to recelve a temperature changing medium, a tubular fastening device to space said casings from each other and form a discharge passage from the inner casing, a plurality of measuring cups carried by said casing, each cup opening into said inner casing, a fluid tight closure for each cup to prevent liquid from the inner casing passing tliereinto, a valve in communication with said passage and with said measuring cups and having a discharge port, and means to actuate said valve to cause one measuring cup to einptv while the other measuring cup is being filled.

4. In a liquid vending machine, a container comprising an inner and an outer casing having a chamber between them to receive a temperature changing medium, a tubular fastening device to' space said casings from each other and form a discharge passage from the inner casing, a plurality of measuring cups within said chamber, each of said cups extending into said inner casing, a fluid tight closure for each cup to prevent liquid from the inner casing passing thereinto, a valve in communication with said passage and with said measuring cups and having a discharge port, and means to actuate said valve to cause one measuring cup toempty while the other measuring cup is being filled.

5. In a liquid vending machine, a liquid container comprising an inner and an outer casing having a chamber between them to said valve.

6. In a liquid vending machine, a plurality of liquid containers each comprising an inner and an outer casinghaving a chamber to receive a temperature changing medium, a pair of measuring cups in each chamber, each of'said cups extending into said inner casing, a closure for each cup to prevent liquid passing from said inner casing directly into each cup, a valve for each container constructed to permit one measuring cup to discharge while the other measuring cup is filling, intergeared shafts connected with said valves to actuate them, and means to actuate one of said shafts.

7 In aliquid .vending machine, a liquid,

container comprising an inner and an outer casing having a chamber between them to receive a temperature changing medium, a tubular fastening device contributing to space said casings from each other, a valve casing connected to said fastening device and having an inlet port' in communication with said fastening device, a pair of measuring cups within said chamber and in communication with said valve casing, means to prevent liquid passing from said inner casing directly into each measuring cup, a valve constructed to control the alternate filling and discharge from each measuring cup, and means to actuate said valve.

8. In a liquid vending machine, a liquid container comprising an inner and an outer casing having a chamber between them, to receive a'temperature changing medium, a pair of measuring cups within said chamher, a closure for each cup having its inner contour controlling the capacity of its respective cup and preventing liquid from said inner casing passing directly into the upper portion of said cup, a valve controlling the admission of liquid from said inner casing to each measuring cup and controlling the discharge from each measuring cup. and means to actuate said valve to cause one cup to be filled while the other cup is being discharged.

9. In a liquid vending machine, a liquid container comprising an inner and an outer casing having a chamber between them to receive a temperature changing medium, a tubular fastening device passingthrough the bottoms of said casings, a sleeve surrounding said device, a valve casing supported by said container in communication with said fastening device, a pair of measuring cups within said chamber and in communication with said valve casing, said cups communicating .with said inner casing, closures for said cups to prevent liquid passing from the inner casing directly into said cups, a valve in said casing simultaneously controlling the filling of one measuring cup and the discharge from the other measuring cup, and means to actuate said valve.

a 10. In a liquid vending machine, a liquid container comprising an inner and an outer casing having a chamber between them to receive a temperature changing medium, measuring cups in-said chamber and fixedly secured to the bottoms of said casings, and opening therethrough, means to prevent liquid passing from said inner casing directly into said cup, a valve supported by said container and in communication with said inner casing, and said measuring cups and having a discharge port, and means to actuate said valve to cause one measuring cup to discharge while the other measuring cup is being filled.

11. In a liquid vending machine, a liquidcontainer comprising an inner and an outer casing, measuring cups within said container, closures for said cups within said inner casing, a valve carried by said container and in communication with said inner casing and with said measuring cups, and means to actuate said valve to cause one cup to be filled while the other cup is being emptied, said closures being removable from within said inner casing.

12. A liquidvending machine comprising a double walled container, forming a chamber adapted to receive a temperature changing medium, a pair of measuring cups within said container, a valve carried by said chamber and communicating with the inner of said double walled containers, closures for said cups to prevent liquid passing from said inner container directly into said .cups and controlling the communication between said inner casing and said measuring cups and the discharge from said measuring cups, a source of heat beneath said container, an anti-friction bearing for said valve to prevent iis binding from heat generatedby said source of heat, and means to actuate said valve to cause one measuring cup to discharge while the other measuring cup is being filled.

13. In a liquid vending machine, a plurality of liquid containers, a pair of measuring cups within each container, a valve for each pair of measuring cups and in communication with its respective container, a shaft connected with each valve, a gear on one valve shaft, a third 'shaft detachably connected with the other valve, a gear on said third shaft meshing with said first gear, and means to actuate said third shaft to control said valve and to cause one measuring cup in each container to discharge while the other measuring cup in each container is being filled.

JOHN FRITSCHE.

Witnesses:

H. S. FAIRBANKS, C. D. MOVAY. 

